Nov 7, 2005

RINO sightings

Get out your binoculars and focus: The RINOs have been sighted.

INOs aren't always in the right, reports Professor Bainbridge. Big spending Conservatives used their weight to push the repeal of Colorado's TABOR law, a model of limited government and, by extension, limited government spending. Charging RINO is annoyed that Congress is dragging its feet regarding the provision in the Defense Appropriations Bill that would forbid torture of detainees in American custody around the world.

lito's nomination made Conservatives pretty happy, but fundraisers from both sides of the aisle are ecstatic about the nominee, says Barry Campbell. "The nomination of 'Scalia Lite' is just the kind of polarizing political event that everyone from James Dobson to NARAL dreams about." Dan Melson is also pleased. He sees the SCOTUS nominee as a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, who will practice judicial restraint.

uns are very much on Countertop's mind as he ponders journalist shield laws. Much of the nation has already conceded to gun regulation--particularly in the blue states, he argues. That creeping encroachment provides just the template needed for those who have their eye on First Amendment Rights. Nick Schweitzer already sees those rights being eroded. We wouldn't need an "Online Freedom of Speech Act" otherwise. Say Uncle, meanwhile, finds that the ATF makes up the rulesas it goes along.

s the GOP Congress feeling buyer's remorse over the pork-laden highway bill? Jeremy Dibbell says more will have to get onboard before funds from the bill are reallocated to the war or Katrina costs. He suggests that more Republicans and Democrats need to be shamed into giving up the pork. Anyway, Alaskans are kind of embarrassed by all the riches bestowed upon them, says Mr. Proliferation. Seems there can be too much of a good thing.

ew Jersey's gubernatorial race has attracted national attention, primarily because it's been so nasty. Scott at Environmental Republican supports Forrester, the Republican. But he predicts that Corzine will win it. Countertop urges Virginians to vote for Jerry Kilgore because Tim Kaine's a gun-banning bigot. Over in West Virginia, Don Surber notes that the first anti-Byrd ad of the 2006 Senatorial campaign stands up to scrutiny. Gary the Ex-Donkey looks back at Election 2004 and concludes that the Democrats will continue to lose elections if they don't come up with any new ideas.

ot grey? Take Piglito's poll. Then head on over to the Commisar's place and add yourself to his Frappr map. The party requires it. Piglito also offers a primer on how you can lose your citizenship. Scott posts a must read: A letter to the editor from a special forces commander and evangelical Christian who is, understandably, upset at being compared to the Taliban. Don Surber says a WaPo story about military recruitment reads like an anti-recruitment handout.

emember when "Paris is Burning" was nothing more than a really good documentary about drag queens? Since the French have been so quick to demonstrate their superiority to us Americans in the matter of the Muslim menace, enrevanche is looking forward to their response to the threat on their own soil. Meanwhile, Larry Bernard wonders if the riots are part of a larger plan.

nternationalist Kofi Annan now has his eyes on the Internet, Mark Coffey points out. Why is this man still in charge? Jane at Armies of Liberation notices that Yemen has withdrawn its US military liaisons. Wouldn't have anything to do with the chlorine gas it released in the Suleiman caves, would it? And the regime is also getting very chummy with Iran these days.

ew Orleans and its fate are on the agenda of the Louisiana Legislature as it meets this week in a special session. Kevin Boyd goes through the agenda and finds that, unfortunately, it's business as usual in Louisiana. AJ Strata notes that Governor Kathleen Blanco is still in office despite the fact that she let the dead victims of Hurricane Katrina lie uncollected for more than a week while she decided what to do with them.

rac finds a Holocaust Denial website that uses Halloween as a hook for a truly offensive contest: The 2nd Annual David McCalden Most Macabre Halloween Holocaust Tale Challenge. Apparently these people get their giggles from Holocaust survivor stories. Speaking of offensive, which bothers you more: Teenagers buying condoms? Or teenagers buying magazines with anatomically correct diagrams of female genitalia? Dean Esmay looks at the evidence.

eizing private property by abusing eminent domain just got a little more difficult, thanks to a measure approved last week in the House. Digger lists the representatives who voted against the measure and suggests that they don't deserve to be returned to office. Tom Hanna notes the protests against the measure by city officials amount to an admission that municipalities were using eminent domain illegally all along.